Board of Directors
Dr. Merchuria Chase-Williams, Faith in Action Education
Georgia Association of Educators, retired
Shaw Temple AME Zion
Mia Dunlap
Spelman College (student)
Sisters Chapel
Kendrea C. Hart, Faith in Action Health Care
Doctoral Student
Ray of Hope Christian Church
Terry Howell, Faith in Action Child Advocacy
Attorney
Epiphany Episcopal
Rosland Hurley, Secretary (and Programs Committee)
Attorney
Ba'hai Unity Center
Rabbi Loren Lapidus, Spiritual Formation
Assistant Rabbi, The Temple (Atlanta)
Kristin N. Mason
Spelman College (student)
Sisters Chapel
Ben Murunga, Treasurer
Marketing and Advertising
Big Bethel AME
Rev. Andrew Peabody, Vice Chair Programs
Director of Programs, MUST Ministries
United Methodist Church (North Georgia Conference)
Rev. Dr. Wendell Phillips, Faith in Action Child Advocacy
Public Policy Advocate, Greater Presbytery of Atlanta
Presbyterian
Donald Price, Fund Development
Vice President of Operations, Sales Implementation
Johns Creek United Methodist Church
Rev. Dr. Lisa Rhodes, Spiritual Formation
Dean, Sisters Chapel
Spelman College
Rev. Bessie Robinson, Faith in Action Parental Nurture
Fulton County Government Juvenile Justice System, retired
Big Bethel AME Church
Safiyyah Shahid, Parliamentarian (and Spiritual Formation)
Director/Principal Mohamed Schools of Atlanta
Atlanta Masjid of al-Islam
Rev. Dr. Luther E. Smith, Jr., Immediate Past Board Chair
Professor of Church & Community, Candler School of Theology at Emory University
Christian Methodist Episcopal
David Soloway, Vice Chair Board Nominations and Development
Attorney
Congregation Or Hadash
Beatrice Soublet, Vice Chair Membership
School Principal, retired
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church
Kathryn Stanley, Special Events Chair
Attorney & Executive Director, Civil Pro Bono Family Law Project
Christian (Protestant)
Michael Summers
Morehouse College (graduate)
Rev. Byron E. Thomas, ICM Board Chair
Senior Pastor, Central United Methodist Church
Board Chair
Rev. Byron E. Thomas
Byron E. Thomas, is the senior pastor of Central United Methodist Church in Atlanta, Georgia. During his two-year tenure as senior pastor, Rev. Thomas has re-energized Central’s long history of advocacy and outreach. Most recently, Rev. Thomas was instrumental in bringing Central together with two other historical United Methodist churches in a spring revival to support child advocacy and the efforts of the Interfaith Children’s Movement (ICM). The three congregations donated $20,000 to ICM to further its work for the children of Georgia. In 2007, Central hosted His Excellency Abdoulaye Diop, Ambassador from Mali, West Africa as part of an effort to create relationships between Mali and Atlanta’s African American community. On August 31, 2009, in response to the growing concerns about health care reform, Rev. Thomas organized a Health Care Reform Town Hall Meeting at Central, which included Congressman John Lewis as one of the panelists.
Rev. Thomas has carried the banner of ICM and children’s issues to various faith communities throughout metropolitan Atlanta. With the advancement of ICM throughout the state of Georgia and the advent of his ascension to Chair of the Interfaith Children’s Movement, Rev. Thomas is committed to “awakening” faith communities to the issues Georgia’s children face on a daily basis – issues of health care, education, juvenile justice and child prostitution and trafficking.
Coordinator
Pamela Perkins
Pamela has responsibility for coordinating ICM programs and committees, the state-wide expansion of ICM, and administration. "I see ICM as the model by which effective, beneficial and lasting policy changes for children can occur in our society. ICM is a place from which we can dedicate the best of ourselves to establishing a future of hope and well-being for all children," Pamela commented.